J. Gregory Richards

With over 30 years of experience, Greg has litigated significant cases in a broad range of fields that have included corporate and commercial matters, complex contract issues, municipal law, government liability, constitutional law, tort claims, professional liability, fiduciary duties, property disputes, joint ventures, bad faith claims, policing, competition, abuse of public office, tax, injunctions, judicial review, and other claims and remedies.

He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice and the Tax Court of Canada, as well as a variety of regulatory tribunals. He regularly acts as counsel in arbitrations and mediations and he has also been appointed as an arbitrator to decide disputes between parties.

Greg has been rated at the highest level by Martindale-Hubbell ("AV-Preeminent") and is designated as a leading practitioner in corporate and commercial litigation, and administrative and public law (Lexpert and The Best Lawyers in Canada). He is recognized in the 2016 edition of Benchmark Canada, the Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys. In 2008 he was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Within WeirFoulds, Greg has been the managing partner of the firm and head of its litigation practice. He has also chaired several other firm committees.

Outside the firm, Greg is actively engaged in the profession and broader community. He has been a director of The Advocates' Society and continues as chair of its Pro Bono Advisory Council, receiving the Pro Bono Volunteer Award in 2011. He is an executive member and past chair of the OBA's Constitutional Law Section. Greg is past chair of the Queen's University Law School Dean's Council and in 2014 he received the H.R.S. Ryan Law Alumni Award of Distinction.

Greg has been an award-winning teacher of trial advocacy at Queen's and teaches and speaks in a variety of other venues.

Greg is a contributing editor of Corporate Litigation (Federated Press) and has published many professional papers, including his doctoral thesis in the Duke Law Journal.

The following are examples of the cases in which Greg Richards has acted as counsel, co-counsel, or arbitrator. As indicated, many of these cases are reported decisions:

Arbitration: Greg acted as Chair of a three-person arbitration tribunal that decided a wide-ranging and hotly contested dispute between two publicly listed mining companies over contractual obligations under a joint venture agreement relating to an off-shore mineral exploration property. In other cases, Greg has acted as litigation counsel for parties in significant arbitration matters.

Multi-Million Dollar Breach of Contract Case: Successfully defended the City of Guelph against a $33 million damages claim where allegations of breach of contract, bad faith, misrepresentation and abuse of public office were made. Thousands of documents were involved, examinations for discovery lasted over 40 days and extensive expert evidence was needed on damages and scientific and engineering issues. The trial lasted several months. The trial judgment is reported at Guelph (City) v. Super Blue Box Recycling Corp. (2007), 38 M.P.L.R. (4th) 267, 38 B.L.R. (4th) 1, 32 C.E.L.R. (3d) 8 (Ont. S.C.J.). The appeal judgment is reported at (2009), 58 M.P.L.R. (4th) 1, 56 B.L.R. (4th) 37 (Ont. C.A.). At an earlier stage of the case, acted for the City in successfully resisting a motion where it was alleged that the municipality had waived solicitor-client privilege over a large number of documents: see Guelph (City) v. Super Blue Box Recycling Corp. (2004), 2 C.P.C. (6th) 276 (Ont. S.C.J.)

Extensive Litigation re a Corporate "Work Out": For seven years, acted for the plaintiff in an action for an accounting and damages in connection with a highly complex corporate "work out" of a business empire involving one of Canada's largest corporate conglomerates. The litigation was extensive: documents filled approximately 1800 storage boxes, discoveries lasted 126 days, several pre-trial motions were successfully argued, and multiple experts were retained and instructed. The parties reached a settlement during the course of a mediation before trial.

Leading Corporate Tax Case:In QEW 427 Dodge Chrysler, acted for the successful plaintiff in this test case brought on behalf of Ontario's automobile dealers. As a result of the decision, it was established that the province's capital tax could not be imposed on the dealers' new car inventory. After the decision, the Ontario government amended the Corporations Tax Act, but not retroactively. As a result, the auto dealers in the province achieved an 11-year corporate tax holiday and a refund process that ultimately will return in excess of an estimated $100 million to the dealers. See QEW 427 Dodge Chrysler (1991) Inc. v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue) (2002), 59 O.R. (3d) 460 160 O.A.C. 129 (Div. Ct.), aff'g, except as to costs, (2000), 49 O.R. (3d) 776 (Super. Ct. J.) and, as to costs, 50 O.R. (3d) 694 (Super. Ct. J.).

Breach of Warranty / Electronic Equipment: Acted for a Texas company in a multi-million dollar claim for breach of contract and warranty concerning an electronic medical testing device it purchased to manufacture from another company. Compliance with FDA regulations, requiring highly technical expert evidence, was at issue. The case settled on favourable terms after a number of days of pre-trial examinations.

Aboriginal Law: Acted as co-counsel in the Supreme Court of Canada for the appellants in R. v. Kapp. At issue was the constitutionality of a commercial salmon fishery in coastal British Columbia waters that was restricted by the federal government to members of three native bands, to the exclusion of other members of the public. The landmark case restates the requirements for an equality rights claim under section 15(1) of the Charter and is the first case to formulate a legal test for the validity of affirmative action programs under section 15(2) of the Charter. See R. v. Kapp, 2008 SCC 41, [2008] 2 S.C.R. 483.

Procedural Fairness: Acted for the union of Toronto Transit Commission workers in seeking to set aside orders of the Ontario Labour Relations Board that found the union to have engaged in an unlawful strike in May 2006. It was argued that the Board had exceeded its jurisdiction in failing to grant the union procedural fairness before making the orders. See Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 v. Ontario (Labour Relations Board) (2007), 88 O.R. (3d) 361, 233 O.A.C. 14, [2007] O.L.R.B. Rep. 982 (Div. Ct.).

The Constitutionality of Corporal Punishment: Appeared as counsel for the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, intervenor, in a constitutional challenge to section 43 of the Criminal Code. The section purported to allow parents and teachers to use force by way of "correction" toward their children and pupils if the force did not exceed what was "reasonable in the circumstances". Although a majority of the Supreme Court of Canada declined to strike down section 43, the Court placed strict limits on the conduct that will escape criminal liability under the section. See Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General), [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76, 234 D.L.R. (4th) 257, 183 O.A.C. 1 (S.C.C.), aff'g (2002), 57 O.R. (3d) 511, 207 D.L.R. (4th) 632, 90 C.R.R. 223 (C.A.), aff'g (2000), 49 O.R. (3d) 662, 188 D.L.R. (4th) 718, 76 C.R.R. (2d) 251 (Super. Ct. J.).

Controlling Governments' Taxing Powers (Re Eurig): Acted as co-counsel for Mrs. Eurig in this landmark case. The Supreme Court of Canada declared Ontario's probate fee invalid on constitutional and administrative law grounds. The Supreme Court held that Ontario had charged a tax, rather than a fee, and that such a tax could only be imposed by the provincial legislature. The Court ordered that the appellant's probate fee be refunded to her. The decision now constrains governments from imposing taxes by means other than a Bill originating in Parliament or one of the provincial legislatures. See Re Eurig Estate, [1998] 2 S.C.R. 565, 165 D.L.R. (4th) 1, 114 O.A.C. 55, 23 E.T.R. 1, 40 O.R. (3d) 160 (S.C.C.), rev'g (1997), 31 O.R. (3d) 777, 96 O.A.C. 354 (C.A.).

Health Restructuring: In Russell et al. v. Health Services Restructuring Commission (Ont.), acted for the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph of the Hotel Dieu of Kingston in a judicial review application to quash Directions of the Health Services Restructuring Commission that required the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston to close. The Directions were challenged on the basis the they (i) violated the Sisters' freedom of religion as guaranteed by the Charter, (ii) were patently unreasonable, and (iii) exceeded the Commission's jurisdiction by failing to consider relevant land use planning implications and requirements. See (1998), 114 O.A.C. 280, 13 Admin. L.R. (3d) 196 (Div. Ct.), aff'd (1999), 175 D.L.R. (4th) 185, 121 O.A.C. 283 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused by the Supreme Court of Canada (2000), 181 D.L.R. (4th) vii.

Mortgage Litigation: In Re Glied and Confederation Life Insurance Company,successfully established a right to prepay under section 18 of the Mortgages Act (Ont.) and section 10 of the Interest Act (Can.) where the individual applicant and a corporation signed a mortgage as co-mortgagors. See (1996), 30 O.R. (3d) 579, 94 O.A.C. 274, 5 R.P.R. (3d) 161 (C.A.).

Securities Litigation:(1) In Ainsley Financial Corp. v. Ontario Securities Commission(1993), 14 O.R. (3d) 280, 106 D.L.R. (4th) 507, 1 C.C.L.S. 1, (Gen. Div.), aff'd (1994), 21 O.R. (3d), 104 121 D.L.R. (4th) 79, 77 O.A.C. 155, 6 C.C.L.S. 241 (C.A.), acted as co-counsel for the successful plaintiffs in a dispute over the rule and policy-making power of the OSC. The case gave rise to a Task Force that resulted in sweeping amendments to Ontario's Securities Act.(2) In E.A. Manning Ltd. v. Ontario Securities Commission(1994), 18 O.R. (3d) 97, 3 C.C.L.S. 221 (Div. Ct.), aff'd (1995), 23 O.R. (3d) 257, 125 D.L.R. (4th) 305, 80 O.A.C. 321, 7 C.C.L.S. 125 (C.A.), acted as co-counsel for the applicant in a judicial review application which demonstrated that all but two of the Commissioners of the O.S.C. were biased and therefore disqualified from sitting on the hearing. (3) In Glendale Securities Inc. v. Ontario (Securities Commission)(1996), 11 C.C.L.S. 102 (O.S.C.), app. for jud. rev. dism'd (1996), 11 C.C.L.S. 216 (Ont. Gen. Div.) an application was brought for a stay of proceedings on the grounds of bias on the part of the director of the enforcement branch and abuse of process in respect of the conduct of an investigative interview.

The Helmuth Buxbaum Case: Acted for the late Helmuth Buxbaum in a number of civil actions that arose out of his conviction for arranging the murder of his wife Hanna. One case was brought by Mr. Buxbaum's nephew who was in the car at the time of the road-side shooting. The case was tried before a civil jury where extensive medical evidence was called to establish that Mr. Buxbaum lacked the mental capacity to be responsible for his actions following a massive stroke he had suffered which destroyed about 40% of his brain. The Ontario Court of Appeal ultimately reduced the jury's award of damages: Buxbaum (Litigation Guardian of) v. Buxbaum, [1997] O.J. No. 5166 (C.A.).

Constructive and Resulting Trusts: Conducted a trial where the issue was whether a block of land transferred to the City of Guelph to prevent development 17 years earlier due to a lack of services at the time was being held by the municipality in a resulting trust for the developer. See University Village (Guelph) Ltd. v. Guelph (City) (1992), 22 R.P.R. (2d) 107, 9 M.P.L.R. (2d) 50 (Ont. Gen. Div.).

Shareholder Disputes / Oppression:Acted as co-counsel in a case involving allegations by a minority shareholder of oppression in a corporation created by the late Harold E. Ballard to effect an estate freeze. See 820099 Ontario Inc. v. Harold E. Ballard Ltd. (1991), 3 B.L.R. (2d) 113 (Ont. Div. Ct.).

Equality Rights and Separate Schools: Acted as co-counsel for one of the parties in the Supreme Court of Canada on a reference concerning the constitutional validity of legislation providing for full funding of Roman Catholic secondary schools in Ontario. See Reference re an Act to Amend the Education Act (Ontario), [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1148, 40 D.L.R. (4th) 18, 22 O.A.C. 321.

Workers' Compensation and the Charter:(1) Acted as co-counsel for the Workers' Compensation Board in successfully defending an equality rights challenge to the Workers' Compensation Act: see Re Medwid and The Queen in right of Ontario (1988), 63 O.R. (2d) 578, 48 D.L.R. (4th) 272 (H.C.J.). (2) In another case, was successful in defending the constitutionality of the workers' compensation scheme from an attack made under section 7 (fundamental justice) of the Charter: see Ryan and Workmen's Compensation Board (1984), 6 O.A.C. 33 (Ont. Div. Ct.).

Challenging Cabinet Decisions: Acted as co-counsel in successfully establishing the right to challenge a decision made by the provincial Cabinet regarding the location of a waste disposal site for allegedly violating the principles of natural justice. See Township of South-West Oxford v. Attorney General for Ontario (1983), 44 O.R. (2d) 376 (H.C.J.). At issue in (1985), 49 C.P.C. 233 (Senior Master), rev'd (1985), 50 O.R. (2d) 297, 3 C.P.C. (2d) 92 (H.C.J.) was the question of whether documents prepared in connection with the decision of Cabinet were protected by a claim of Crown privilege.

Greg Richards has acted as counsel or co-counsel in over 80 reported cases. Examples of these cases are described and found under the heading "Significant Cases".

"Zoning for Direct Social Control", [1982] Duke Law Journal 761 (condensed version of doctoral thesis); reprinted in (1984)15 Land Use and Environment Law Review 131.

In addition to presenting many of the papers listed above, Greg Richards has been involved in numerous speaking engagements for The Advocates' Society, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the OBA, and other professional organizations. The following are examples:

The Production of Documents in Complex Civil Litigation, March 29, 1988 Seminar for Competition Investigators, Ottawa.

Greg Richards is a senior trial and appeal lawyer who is recognized in the profession as a leading corporate and commercial litigator. He has also acted in a number of precedent-setting public law cases.

With over 30 years of experience, Greg has litigated significant cases in a broad range of fields that have included corporate and commercial matters, complex contract issues, municipal law, government liability, constitutional law, tort claims, professional liability, fiduciary duties, property disputes, joint ventures, bad faith claims, policing, competition, abuse of public office, tax, injunctions, judicial review, and other claims and remedies.

He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Superior Court of Justice and the Tax Court of Canada, as well as a variety of regulatory tribunals. He regularly acts as counsel in arbitrations and mediations and he has also been appointed as an arbitrator to decide disputes between parties.

Greg has been rated at the highest level by Martindale-Hubbell ("AV-Preeminent") and is designated as a leading practitioner in corporate and commercial litigation, and administrative and public law (Lexpert and The Best Lawyers in Canada). He is recognized in the 2016 edition of Benchmark Canada, the Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys. In 2008 he was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Within WeirFoulds, Greg has been the managing partner of the firm and head of its litigation practice. He has also chaired several other firm committees.

Outside the firm, Greg is actively engaged in the profession and broader community. He has been a director of The Advocates' Society and continues as chair of its Pro Bono Advisory Council, receiving the Pro Bono Volunteer Award in 2011. He is an executive member and past chair of the OBA's Constitutional Law Section. Greg is past chair of the Queen's University Law School Dean's Council and in 2014 he received the H.R.S. Ryan Law Alumni Award of Distinction.

Greg has been an award-winning teacher of trial advocacy at Queen's and teaches and speaks in a variety of other venues.

Greg is a contributing editor of Corporate Litigation (Federated Press) and has published many professional papers, including his doctoral thesis in the Duke Law Journal.

Significant Cases

The following are examples of the cases in which Greg Richards has acted as counsel, co-counsel, or arbitrator. As indicated, many of these cases are reported decisions:

Arbitration: Greg acted as Chair of a three-person arbitration tribunal that decided a wide-ranging and hotly contested dispute between two publicly listed mining companies over contractual obligations under a joint venture agreement relating to an off-shore mineral exploration property. In other cases, Greg has acted as litigation counsel for parties in significant arbitration matters.

Multi-Million Dollar Breach of Contract Case: Successfully defended the City of Guelph against a $33 million damages claim where allegations of breach of contract, bad faith, misrepresentation and abuse of public office were made. Thousands of documents were involved, examinations for discovery lasted over 40 days and extensive expert evidence was needed on damages and scientific and engineering issues. The trial lasted several months. The trial judgment is reported at Guelph (City) v. Super Blue Box Recycling Corp. (2007), 38 M.P.L.R. (4th) 267, 38 B.L.R. (4th) 1, 32 C.E.L.R. (3d) 8 (Ont. S.C.J.). The appeal judgment is reported at (2009), 58 M.P.L.R. (4th) 1, 56 B.L.R. (4th) 37 (Ont. C.A.). At an earlier stage of the case, acted for the City in successfully resisting a motion where it was alleged that the municipality had waived solicitor-client privilege over a large number of documents: see Guelph (City) v. Super Blue Box Recycling Corp. (2004), 2 C.P.C. (6th) 276 (Ont. S.C.J.)

Extensive Litigation re a Corporate "Work Out": For seven years, acted for the plaintiff in an action for an accounting and damages in connection with a highly complex corporate "work out" of a business empire involving one of Canada's largest corporate conglomerates. The litigation was extensive: documents filled approximately 1800 storage boxes, discoveries lasted 126 days, several pre-trial motions were successfully argued, and multiple experts were retained and instructed. The parties reached a settlement during the course of a mediation before trial.

Leading Corporate Tax Case:In QEW 427 Dodge Chrysler, acted for the successful plaintiff in this test case brought on behalf of Ontario's automobile dealers. As a result of the decision, it was established that the province's capital tax could not be imposed on the dealers' new car inventory. After the decision, the Ontario government amended the Corporations Tax Act, but not retroactively. As a result, the auto dealers in the province achieved an 11-year corporate tax holiday and a refund process that ultimately will return in excess of an estimated $100 million to the dealers. See QEW 427 Dodge Chrysler (1991) Inc. v. Ontario (Minister of Revenue) (2002), 59 O.R. (3d) 460 160 O.A.C. 129 (Div. Ct.), aff'g, except as to costs, (2000), 49 O.R. (3d) 776 (Super. Ct. J.) and, as to costs, 50 O.R. (3d) 694 (Super. Ct. J.).

Breach of Warranty / Electronic Equipment: Acted for a Texas company in a multi-million dollar claim for breach of contract and warranty concerning an electronic medical testing device it purchased to manufacture from another company. Compliance with FDA regulations, requiring highly technical expert evidence, was at issue. The case settled on favourable terms after a number of days of pre-trial examinations.

Aboriginal Law: Acted as co-counsel in the Supreme Court of Canada for the appellants in R. v. Kapp. At issue was the constitutionality of a commercial salmon fishery in coastal British Columbia waters that was restricted by the federal government to members of three native bands, to the exclusion of other members of the public. The landmark case restates the requirements for an equality rights claim under section 15(1) of the Charter and is the first case to formulate a legal test for the validity of affirmative action programs under section 15(2) of the Charter. See R. v. Kapp, 2008 SCC 41, [2008] 2 S.C.R. 483.

Procedural Fairness: Acted for the union of Toronto Transit Commission workers in seeking to set aside orders of the Ontario Labour Relations Board that found the union to have engaged in an unlawful strike in May 2006. It was argued that the Board had exceeded its jurisdiction in failing to grant the union procedural fairness before making the orders. See Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 v. Ontario (Labour Relations Board) (2007), 88 O.R. (3d) 361, 233 O.A.C. 14, [2007] O.L.R.B. Rep. 982 (Div. Ct.).

The Constitutionality of Corporal Punishment: Appeared as counsel for the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies, intervenor, in a constitutional challenge to section 43 of the Criminal Code. The section purported to allow parents and teachers to use force by way of "correction" toward their children and pupils if the force did not exceed what was "reasonable in the circumstances". Although a majority of the Supreme Court of Canada declined to strike down section 43, the Court placed strict limits on the conduct that will escape criminal liability under the section. See Canadian Foundation for Children, Youth and the Law v. Canada (Attorney General), [2004] 1 S.C.R. 76, 234 D.L.R. (4th) 257, 183 O.A.C. 1 (S.C.C.), aff'g (2002), 57 O.R. (3d) 511, 207 D.L.R. (4th) 632, 90 C.R.R. 223 (C.A.), aff'g (2000), 49 O.R. (3d) 662, 188 D.L.R. (4th) 718, 76 C.R.R. (2d) 251 (Super. Ct. J.).

Controlling Governments' Taxing Powers (Re Eurig): Acted as co-counsel for Mrs. Eurig in this landmark case. The Supreme Court of Canada declared Ontario's probate fee invalid on constitutional and administrative law grounds. The Supreme Court held that Ontario had charged a tax, rather than a fee, and that such a tax could only be imposed by the provincial legislature. The Court ordered that the appellant's probate fee be refunded to her. The decision now constrains governments from imposing taxes by means other than a Bill originating in Parliament or one of the provincial legislatures. See Re Eurig Estate, [1998] 2 S.C.R. 565, 165 D.L.R. (4th) 1, 114 O.A.C. 55, 23 E.T.R. 1, 40 O.R. (3d) 160 (S.C.C.), rev'g (1997), 31 O.R. (3d) 777, 96 O.A.C. 354 (C.A.).

Health Restructuring: In Russell et al. v. Health Services Restructuring Commission (Ont.), acted for the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph of the Hotel Dieu of Kingston in a judicial review application to quash Directions of the Health Services Restructuring Commission that required the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston to close. The Directions were challenged on the basis the they (i) violated the Sisters' freedom of religion as guaranteed by the Charter, (ii) were patently unreasonable, and (iii) exceeded the Commission's jurisdiction by failing to consider relevant land use planning implications and requirements. See (1998), 114 O.A.C. 280, 13 Admin. L.R. (3d) 196 (Div. Ct.), aff'd (1999), 175 D.L.R. (4th) 185, 121 O.A.C. 283 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused by the Supreme Court of Canada (2000), 181 D.L.R. (4th) vii.

Mortgage Litigation: In Re Glied and Confederation Life Insurance Company,successfully established a right to prepay under section 18 of the Mortgages Act (Ont.) and section 10 of the Interest Act (Can.) where the individual applicant and a corporation signed a mortgage as co-mortgagors. See (1996), 30 O.R. (3d) 579, 94 O.A.C. 274, 5 R.P.R. (3d) 161 (C.A.).

Securities Litigation:(1) In Ainsley Financial Corp. v. Ontario Securities Commission(1993), 14 O.R. (3d) 280, 106 D.L.R. (4th) 507, 1 C.C.L.S. 1, (Gen. Div.), aff'd (1994), 21 O.R. (3d), 104 121 D.L.R. (4th) 79, 77 O.A.C. 155, 6 C.C.L.S. 241 (C.A.), acted as co-counsel for the successful plaintiffs in a dispute over the rule and policy-making power of the OSC. The case gave rise to a Task Force that resulted in sweeping amendments to Ontario's Securities Act.(2) In E.A. Manning Ltd. v. Ontario Securities Commission(1994), 18 O.R. (3d) 97, 3 C.C.L.S. 221 (Div. Ct.), aff'd (1995), 23 O.R. (3d) 257, 125 D.L.R. (4th) 305, 80 O.A.C. 321, 7 C.C.L.S. 125 (C.A.), acted as co-counsel for the applicant in a judicial review application which demonstrated that all but two of the Commissioners of the O.S.C. were biased and therefore disqualified from sitting on the hearing. (3) In Glendale Securities Inc. v. Ontario (Securities Commission)(1996), 11 C.C.L.S. 102 (O.S.C.), app. for jud. rev. dism'd (1996), 11 C.C.L.S. 216 (Ont. Gen. Div.) an application was brought for a stay of proceedings on the grounds of bias on the part of the director of the enforcement branch and abuse of process in respect of the conduct of an investigative interview.

The Helmuth Buxbaum Case: Acted for the late Helmuth Buxbaum in a number of civil actions that arose out of his conviction for arranging the murder of his wife Hanna. One case was brought by Mr. Buxbaum's nephew who was in the car at the time of the road-side shooting. The case was tried before a civil jury where extensive medical evidence was called to establish that Mr. Buxbaum lacked the mental capacity to be responsible for his actions following a massive stroke he had suffered which destroyed about 40% of his brain. The Ontario Court of Appeal ultimately reduced the jury's award of damages: Buxbaum (Litigation Guardian of) v. Buxbaum, [1997] O.J. No. 5166 (C.A.).

Constructive and Resulting Trusts: Conducted a trial where the issue was whether a block of land transferred to the City of Guelph to prevent development 17 years earlier due to a lack of services at the time was being held by the municipality in a resulting trust for the developer. See University Village (Guelph) Ltd. v. Guelph (City) (1992), 22 R.P.R. (2d) 107, 9 M.P.L.R. (2d) 50 (Ont. Gen. Div.).

Shareholder Disputes / Oppression:Acted as co-counsel in a case involving allegations by a minority shareholder of oppression in a corporation created by the late Harold E. Ballard to effect an estate freeze. See 820099 Ontario Inc. v. Harold E. Ballard Ltd. (1991), 3 B.L.R. (2d) 113 (Ont. Div. Ct.).

Equality Rights and Separate Schools: Acted as co-counsel for one of the parties in the Supreme Court of Canada on a reference concerning the constitutional validity of legislation providing for full funding of Roman Catholic secondary schools in Ontario. See Reference re an Act to Amend the Education Act (Ontario), [1987] 1 S.C.R. 1148, 40 D.L.R. (4th) 18, 22 O.A.C. 321.

Workers' Compensation and the Charter:(1) Acted as co-counsel for the Workers' Compensation Board in successfully defending an equality rights challenge to the Workers' Compensation Act: see Re Medwid and The Queen in right of Ontario (1988), 63 O.R. (2d) 578, 48 D.L.R. (4th) 272 (H.C.J.). (2) In another case, was successful in defending the constitutionality of the workers' compensation scheme from an attack made under section 7 (fundamental justice) of the Charter: see Ryan and Workmen's Compensation Board (1984), 6 O.A.C. 33 (Ont. Div. Ct.).

Challenging Cabinet Decisions: Acted as co-counsel in successfully establishing the right to challenge a decision made by the provincial Cabinet regarding the location of a waste disposal site for allegedly violating the principles of natural justice. See Township of South-West Oxford v. Attorney General for Ontario (1983), 44 O.R. (2d) 376 (H.C.J.). At issue in (1985), 49 C.P.C. 233 (Senior Master), rev'd (1985), 50 O.R. (2d) 297, 3 C.P.C. (2d) 92 (H.C.J.) was the question of whether documents prepared in connection with the decision of Cabinet were protected by a claim of Crown privilege.

Reported Cases

Greg Richards has acted as counsel or co-counsel in over 80 reported cases. Examples of these cases are described and found under the heading "Significant Cases".

"Zoning for Direct Social Control", [1982] Duke Law Journal 761 (condensed version of doctoral thesis); reprinted in (1984)15 Land Use and Environment Law Review 131.

Speaking Engagements

In addition to presenting many of the papers listed above, Greg Richards has been involved in numerous speaking engagements for The Advocates' Society, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the OBA, and other professional organizations. The following are examples:

William W. Cook Graduate Fellowship (paying full tuition and all living expenses at the University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor). Offers of admission also received from Harvard and Yale Law Schools' graduate programs.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship

A number of prizes while a student at Queen's University Law School

Scholarships while an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto

Professional Activities

Member of the Executive and Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association's Constitutional, Civil Liberties and Human Rights Section

William W. Cook Graduate Fellowship (paying full tuition and all living expenses at the University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor). Offers of admission also received from Harvard and Yale Law Schools' graduate programs.

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship

A number of prizes while a student at Queen's University Law School

Scholarships while an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto